2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed: central feature to celebrate Porsche

The central feature at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed will celebrate Porsche, marking 70 years since the launch of its first sports car, the 356.

The sculpture, which will be again be designed by Gerry Judah, will be erected in front of Goodwood House for the event, which runs from July 12-15. After last year’s sculpture celebrated F1 tsar Bernie Ecclestone, this year’s example will again be dedicated to a car firm.

The 356 will be the focal point of the display. The model first entered production in 1948 and was the original rear-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car of Porsche, starting a lineage that survives to this day with the 911.

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2017: full report

It will be the third time Porsche has been the subject of the sculpture at the annual motoring festival, a record for one car firm. Porsche was first celebrated with a sculpture to mark its 50th anniversary in 1998, while in 2013 the 50th year of the 911 was highlighted.

The first Judah-designed sculpture, dedicated to Ferrari, featured at the Festival in 1997. Aside from Porsche, the other car firms to have been the subject of the sculpture more than once are Audi (1999 and 2009), Jaguar (2000 and 2011), Mercedes-Benz (2001 and 2014) and Renault (2002 and 2006).

This year will also be the 25th running of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. To mark the occasion, Lord March, who last year became the 11th Duke of Richmond, will celebrate his best 25 moments from the event’s history, including his favourite cars and drivers.

Flat out in a Lamborghini Centenario on the Goodwood hillclimb

The event will also welcome another long list of iconic machines to the hill climb, with models ranging from modern Formula 1 racers to vintage motorcycles. The Supercar Paddock will also return with the latest exotic metal (and carbonfibre), some of which will compete in the timed hill climb shootout.

Last year’s shootout was won by the Audi R8 V10 Plus, which completed the 1.16-mile course in 51secs. It beat the Nissan GT-R Nismo, which recorded a 52.68sec run.